Chapter 48: Rise of a new scourge of god? (Part 5)
By eleven in the morning, everything was set and ready to go. Siege towers pushed upon timber to move more smoothly to the walls, janissary infantry accompanying the siege towers and rams. The remaining soldiers are going to be climbing the walls using the ladders.
But the majority of the infantry will be either going up on the wall with the tower or through a gap exploited by the rams. The gathered assault squad this time is targeting the gap made last night along with me, I believe this gap will draw in the most defenders and will be a terrible fighting ground.
That is until our reinforcements arrive to attack the defender's flanks. This is my plan moving forwards so now I am set to go. Moving with a set group of 2500 kapikulu Sipahi, I moved to the area of the wall that has fallen already, we are now behind the cannons watching the bombardment of the rubble and defenders, and the siege as a whole.
Shooting a few fireworks into the sky I signaled the beginning of the siege! By now a majority of the rubble has been removed by the exploding cannon shot. Also soon the navy will advance on the sea walls and port, as the fireworks also signaled the fleet nearby to attack... They will have to fight through the defending ships but that shouldn't be much of a task.
Ordering the assault squad to move I said "Forwards! Attack and do not look back only move FORWARDS!" Watching them move forwards the excitement began to build within me, as I could taste the gold hidden behind the walls and see the position we will hold on the Adriatic sea!
After a short moment, our assault squad reached the breach in the wall... Moved in formation through the gap slowly and steadily looking for the defender's resistance, and soon they found it. The defenders came rushing from behind the cover of the walls spears pointed forwards, the defenders here are dressed in light armor similar to militia everywhere showing their status.
Well, not many places today have militia but city republics like these usually have a citizen militia guarding its walls in times of need. So the majority of the troops are only armed and armored with whatever they can afford and aren't granted any equipment from the government. Hence why these frontline defenders are either unarmored or lightly armored.
But these is not the only defender there are many crusader and mercenary forces within the city waiting for their chance to strike I guess. Our forces began to decimate the militia sent against them, the numbers were similar about a thousand men on each side.
On the other side our siege rams and towers slowly moved forwards with the infantry trailing behind them... Both taking heavy fire from the walls, but our skirmishers in the trenches near the wall are no slouches and are picking off many a defender on the walls.
After a few minutes, the battle at the breakthrough reach a breaking point and the defenders began to flee back to the city's center... They just weren't armed or trained enough to deal with my now experienced and battle-hardened janissary forces. My assault squad ran down the few they could a ran them through with their weapons, but they could not leave the breakthrough undefended.
They were ordered to hold the breakthrough til told otherwise. I also told them to secure the surrounding sections of walls if they are not busy, which I would say as of now they are pretty free. As I was thinking this the 1200-man commander Ayberk order the taking of the walls, to secure their rear and create new space for our skirmishers and cannons to move forwards.
Soon the siege engines reached the walls under heavy fire, the fighting here seemed more fierce than at the breakthrough making me rethink my strategy... Maybe the assault squad could be the flanking force on the walls and then after piercing the enemy we could move toward the enemies in the center from all sides.
Thinking this I decided to move on the fly, Sending runners to the cannons and skirmishers in the area with orders to move them forward onto the walls and to hold the walls from any other attackers. This will allow the assault squad to move freely and attack the staunch defenders now firing upon my siege engines.
Also at this time the rams made contact with the walls, and the towers were just a bit behind. The rams began to slam their large timber and iron plate rams onto the walls making them shake and crack with every swing. *BAM BAM BAM* Soon a section of the wall was on the verge of crumbling, the defenders began to clear the walls afraid of falling to their deaths... And our janissaries began to move forwards ready to move into the city.
On the opposite side to the north, our ram was in the same position punching the already damaged wall section with force. The siege tower on this side though was already at its destination as it was moving downhill slightly so the speed was much faster than in the south. Once the tower reached the walls the swivel cannons, musketeers, and bowmen were laying down covering fire for the infantry to exit the tower.
Within a minute or two the bridge dropped and my janissaries began to flood onto the walls fighting with the ferocity of a lion. With the infantry on the walls pushing the defenders back on the northern walls, the south was also now applying its pressure with the tower reaching the wall and the troops now entering the now fallen section of the walls.
The infantry entering the city in the south though were met with much resistance many mercenaries and crusaders were located in the area of the city... Hopefully, this is the best they have to offer as the casualties of my troops began to rise in this area. But I can solve this by having the assault squad attack their flanks in the south.
Within a few minutes, the skirmishers were on the walls in front of me and the assault squad was beginning to move out. I brought my Horseman into the city through the gap in the wall as well, I am looking to flank the defenders in the north. Once we push them away from the walls and claim them for our own that is pretty much the end of the battle, I also have sipahi located near the secret entrance so no one will escape!
Upon entering the city I practically cut off my line of information leaving the remainder of the battlefield dark for me. But that is what I have commanders for, I will lead my troops personally to create the best outcomes for my army when I feel the need to.
I formed two identical formations about twelve hundred each, two heavy cavalry corps. One led by me the other led by Omar, I ordered him to head west a little before turning north through the city and charging the enemies, and I will directly move north and then west catching the sides of the enemy's formation.
As we moved through the sorta tight street we had to form up in a rather tight formation, this also forced us to move rather slowly. As we got closer to the northern wall obstruction was noticed blocking our route forwards. Soon as the obstruction became clear we noticed a contingent of armored spearmen blocking the street...
We had no choice we couldn't run head-on into the enemy while mounted, so when we got close enough I was gonna have my troops dismount but I was rudely interrupted... I am gonna assume the man talking to me is the leader of said troop in front of me...
This man said "I know you! I got a painting of you here *Shows a small portrait of Mc* You are the so-called ruler of infidels the little lion cub of Gallipoli... Well, I say today shall be your last, I heard from my brother's best friend it was your navy who sunk his ship leading to his death! So to fulfill my rightful revenge on the infidels who killed my kin and damaged my homeland... What do you say to a duel?"
*HAHAHAHAHA* My kapikulu guards began laughing at what the man just said... The most surprising was how good the man's arabic was. But I have to say I want to give the man a duel it is his right but if I give every man a duel who wants revenge against me I will probably fight for decades. Hmm... But this is just one man fuck it I will beat his ass and then his troops after.
I responded "so you came all this way to a foreign land when your country is under attack just to fight me the so-called lions cub? Okay since you put in all this effort and by divine will you managed to actually meet me on the battlefield, so let us fight... If you want revenge you are just gonna have to get it back in blood my friend."
After a quick spat with my soldiers who did not want me to fight, both sides formed a circle each side forming a semi-circle leaving a small gap between the sides so neither side is touching. Walking into the middle I could feel the pressure in the air, everyone here is ready to fight and die at any moment. This is so exciting why did no one challenge me before this damn I was truly missing out.
The enemy moved forwards into the circle and I asked "Your name? I want to know the name of the fool dumb enough the challenge the man brave enough to lead brave men."
He responded "I am a member of the Embriaci family... I am the nephew of the former governor of Chios may he rest in peace... My given name is Guillermo, remember this name because I will the man to send you to your cell in hell."
This man is funny... I responded "Oh... So you are a part of the family I simply dismantled and eliminated from my seas. I get why you are so infuriated and why you are so insistent on revenge. But I will say even though we killed your family members, I am sorry and I wish them to REST. IN. PISS... FOREVER THEY WILL SLEEP WITH THE FISHES"
Obviously, in another language, he did not catch all the disrespect in one go, but soon he understood what I was insinuating. Reacting in anger he screamed *ARGGGHH* and sprinted toward me blade drawn... I responded by drawing my blade and getting in a solid defensive stance.
His first blow was swung wildly and with a ton of force, I deflected the blow instead of just blocking... I sent a downward slash toward his mid-section, to which he did not deflect or defend and my blow just slashed into his coat of plates. With this, I made my first mistake and he took advantage smashing the pummel of his blade into my stomach, not dealing much damage with my armor but knocking me back a bit restarting the duel.
Shit even though I have fought in many battles my true experience in duels is fairly low, as no one is truly willing to fight me like this crazed man. Well, it'll work out, I am equipped to deal with idiots like this, Pulling out my dagger I am planning to fight with a weapon in both hands gaining a small advantage in the number of moves I can perform.
My opponent is using a longer two-handed blade, giving him a very small advantage in the size of our weapons, but as far as reach goes I have a strong advantage as my arm length is far longer than his... This time instead of the opponent I moved forwards, prepared to use my physical advantage I moved forwards slowly at first.
Once I reached within a few steps I quickly improved my speed, and dipping my shoulder I bumped him with my entire weight behind it.. Not like I wanted but I managed to move my opponent backward and break his guard a bit, still within arm's length I spun right out of my shoulder rush onto my knee and with my whole body I slashed at his legs...
Only armored with chainmail, my Turkish saber I easily cut through this thin mail and into his thighs rather deeply as well... Running on adrenaline my opponent cut downwards towards me with all his strength, to defend I used my sword in an upwards slash... With both his hands holding his blade and his legs bleeding out his reaction speed is rather slow.
I used this moment I sprung up from my knee and pushed his blade upwards and back towards his face, and I with my left hand free used my dagger to stab into his right arm underpit... With my dagger still in his underpit and my hand still holding it, I sparta kicked this man directly into his hands and chest area sending him stumbling backwards eventually falling flat on his back.
Looking at the crowd of enemies getting antsy I said "Nobody move! You all agreed to this match, Dont interrupt and I will think about sparing your lives!"
Walking forwards I looked down at the man struggling to get back up and couching up clumbs of blood... I lifted him up until he was sitting on his ass with his legs stretched out still, I then lined up my blade to his neck then slash *Fwooop* his head went flying...
I said "Weak! So weak..."
Authors Note- If you did not like this style say so, as I liked writing it... I thought I would try something a little different.